Actor Jesse Moss. Photo courtesy/copyright of Kristine Cofsky.
Policing a small town such as Port Moore, Alaska in SYFY’s Ghost Wars should not be that big of a problem. By now, the police department is familiar with who the local troublemakers are, or could potentially be, and is also quick to spot any outsiders who might turn up on its patch. Nonetheless, the town is currently experiencing not exactly a crime spree, but tragic as well as unexplainable occurrences that look to be supernatural in nature. Townsfolk are dying under mysterious and horrific circumstances, typically at the hands of residents long since deceased.
Needless to say, Deputy Norm Waters and his fellow law enforcement officers have their hands full dealing with situations unfolding in this world along with the spillover from “the other side.” While neither he nor his colleagues ever imagined having to face such high life and death stakes, actor Jesse Moss, who plays Waters, looked forward to helping tackle such a double-barreled threat, fictionally speaking, of course.
“I was actually out of town for the first round of auditions for Ghost Wars, so I sent in a self [audition] tape that I made with a friend of mine,” says Moss. “I didn’t hear anything back, so I just assumed that they [the show’s producers] had passed on me. Then, however, out of nowhere, my agent called and said that they wanted to see me in the [audition] room, so I went in to read for them. It went well, but, again, I didn’t hear anything for a while and just though they chose to go another way with the role. So I was quite surprised as well as thrilled when my agent finally told me I’d booked the role. It just goes to prove that it’s never over until it’s over.”
In Ghost Wars’ opening episode Death’s Door, Roman Mercer (Avan Jogia), who grew up in Port Moore, prepares to leave town, having spent most of his life being scorned and feared by its residents for his unearthly ability to see the dead. Despite the urging of his old friend Reverend Dan (Vincent D’Onofrio), who is struggling with his own faith-based issues, the young man leaves later that same day on a bus. Unfortunately, Roman’s journey is postponed by forces beyond his control, and everyone on the bus except for him dies in a fiery crash. After the occurrence of what on the surface appears to be a natural phenomenon, Port Moore becomes the target of a supernatural onslaught, and everyone, including Deputy Waters, becomes a potential casualty. It was quite the introduction to this world for Moss and his fellow castmates.
“What’s most memorable to me about shooting my first Ghost Wars episode was wrapping my head around the fact that I was working with Vincent D’Onofrio,” notes the actor. “He’s such a big guy with this massive presence that can be intimidating, but it doesn’t take long to see that he is one of the kindest and most generous actors to be around. I started out on the show working closely with Vincent. He really taught me a great deal, which, in turn gave me a confidence that I carried with me throughout the rest of the season. As shooting continued, I got to meet the rest of the cast, and it quickly dawned on me how lucky I was to be a part of this show. This was such a talented group of people and not one hint of ego.
“As for my character of Norm, he’s a bit of a slacker with a small town mentality. He never really wanted to be a cop, and just took the job thinking it would be easy, especially because nothing really happens in Port Moore, right? My initial acting challenge with Norm was finding a way to show his many faults while still making him likable, or at least relatable. He has a wild side in the first season, and where Waters begins and where he ends up are two very different places. From point A to point B, he must confront who he really is and do things he never thought he was capable of. It’s tough without giving away spoilers, but I can tell you this, Norm’s relationships from his past play a major role in his future. Friends will become enemies and vice versa. His journey is pretty epic as well as intense, and it forces Norm to learn things about himself while growing as a person.”
A Leo Award-winning actor who was born and brought up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Moss began working in the business at a very young age. “My first audition was for The Mickey Mouse Club, and it ended up coming down to me and another kid,” he recalls. “I didn’t get the job, but the casting director set me up with an agent. After that, I never looked back or thought about doing anything else because this is all I’ve ever known.”
In the actor’s over 25 years in the business, he has appeared in countless other TV shows such as The Odyssey, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Cold Squad, Mysterious Ways, Whistler, Motive, Cedar Cove and The Good Doctor. Moss has also worked on a variety of made-for-TV movies as well as voiced characters for several animated series. Long before Ghost Wars, he dipped more than a toe in the proverbial waters of genre TV, having guest-starred on such popular shows as Highlander and Stargate SG-1. “These types of series are the reason I love to act,” enthuses Moss. “The worlds they inhabit are so cool, different and exciting. My episode of Highlander was set during the U.S. Civil War, while in Stargate SG-1 I was fighting a war on an alien planet, so I got to do and experience things that are very far removed from everyday life.”
Ginger Snaps, Final Destination 3, 13, Eerie, Free Style, The Uninvited, Prozac Nation, Due East, Missing in America, Partition and The Big Year are among Moss’ big screen credits. “I recently returned from Tbilisi, Georgia where I shot Daddy’s Girl,” says the actor. “It’s a thriller/horror film about a couple that abducts women to torture and kill them. I play Deputy Scott Wallace, who is trying to take the couple down. “
With many more projects and roles still yet to come, what does Moss feel has made a career in this particular industry rewarding for him so far? “I’ve met some of the most important people in my life through this job, and made friends that will last me a lifetime,” he says. “I also get to travel to places I never thought I would, including, for example, Tbilisi, Georgia, which is a beautiful place that I probably never would have gone to had it not been for my work. So this industry can take you outside of your comfort zone and exposes you to a world that you wouldn’t have otherwise experienced as fully.”
Steve Eramo
Ghost Wars airs Thursdays @ 10:00 p.m. EST/9:00 p.m. CT on SYFY (US). As noted above, photo courtesy/copyright of Kristine Cofsky, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
